Yakovlev YAK 52 accident near Matawan, New Jersey, July 13, 2002
On July 13, 2002 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Yakovlev YAK 52, registered N69GC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Matawan, New Jersey (Marlboro Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive maneuvering and failure to maintain aircraft control, following a partial power loss during the initial climb, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. A factor in the accident was an inadequate annual condition inspection performed by the certificated mechanic.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2002 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Matawan, New Jersey · Marlboro Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Yakovlev YAK 52 · all YAK 52s on the register
- Registration
- N69GC · registry record · serial KYA542027
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that there were no discrepancies during the taxi, run-up, and takeoff roll. The airplane initially climbed approximately 20 degrees nose-up, and began to bank left. About 200 feet above the ground, the pilot and passenger heard a "bang," and the airplane continued to roll left. The airplane then spun to the right, and impacted a wooded area in a nose-down attitude. Examination of the wreckage revealed that a portion of the wooden propeller was almost entirely embedded in an approximate 3-inch diameter tree branch. The number nine front spark plug was found ejected from the engine. A burned torch mark was present on the underside of the cowling, in the vicinity of the number nine cylinder. Additionally, three other spark plugs were found loose in their cylinders. Review of maintenance records revealed that an annual inspection was performed on the airplane about 1 month prior to the accident. During the inspection, the spark plugs were cleaned, gapped, and rotated. Since the inspection, the airplane had flown approximately 30 minutes. The emergency procedures checklist, for the same make and model as accident airplane, included setting a descent attitude following an engine failure. Review of FAA publications regarding accelerated maneuver stalls, revealed that an airplane will stall at a higher indicated airspeed when excessive maneuvering loads are imposed by steep turns, pullups, or other abrupt changes in flightpath.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,550 hours in all; 118 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 3,210 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 18, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2002; 0.5 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vendeneyev M-14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2N8 Matawan NJ at 9:10 pm
- Destination: 2N8
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,156 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from EWR, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.